Don't you just hate spoilers? I do, too. That's why I always try to include warnings. However, I sometimes ramble a bit too much here or there and maybe a few (or many) key plot points slip without me giving proper notice. So I'd like to include a blanket spoiler warning for the weary internet travelers of the world: Here There Be Spoilers. You've been warned.

Monday, September 19, 2016

My Favorite Anime-Related Possessions

It's no secret I love anime. When you run a blog and spend more money than seems wise on things like box sets and figures and phone apps about anime then it is pretty much a given that anime is a big part of life.

I own anime-related items. Lots of them. But they are not created equal. At least not to me. All of them have meaning, but I think everyone has certain things in their possession that just have either sentimental value or what have you that make them mean "more" and I am the same way.

So I wanted to make a list of my favorite anime-related items. I'm talking about shirts and figures and all that good stuff. To me, blu-ray sets and DVD sets don't really have a big place in this list because I think most of them are pretty interchangeable with others. However, some will appear on this list.

And yes, I will try to include recent pics whenever possible.

10) Digivolving Blackwargreymon - I loved Digimon when I was younger and my absolute favorite character on that show was Blackwargreymon. This guy actually digivolves from Blackagumon. So as a kid that loved both Transformers and Digimon I thought this figure was the absolute shit. The best of both worlds. I still have it proudly displayed on my anime shelf. I know there are better figures out there of this character. Some of them I can't even afford. But this is literally the only figure I've ever owned of this guy. I know he is dusty in the photo and I hate that, but I just haven't had time to dust lately.

9) IF Labs Fifth Form Cooler - Dragon Ball Z is my go-to anime. It probably always will be. I still have all of my figures from back in the day. Of course, over the time my tastes have refined a bit and S.H. Figuarts has really spoiled me, but there are a few figures I have that still stand the test of time. This awesome Cooler is one of them. Cooler is one of my favorite DBZ movie villains and his fifth form is one of the coolest transformations around. And this old IF Labs figure did him all kinds of justice. Just look at that detail.

8) Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Collection Box Set - This was one of the first anime series I purchased with my own paycheck. I also bought it at a time before it got way too expensive to justify buying. It is an awesome (but not for everyone) series and the collection is still fantastic.

7) Time Wizard - I never played Yu-Gi-Oh! as a card game, but I did collect the cards. I have a ton of them. I loved the anime and I always grew excited when I got a card that was featured prominently on the anime. The Time Wizard may not be the most well known cards from the show, but I remember the awesome moment when Joey used it to create the Thousand Dragon. Of course, the real card is different than what was shown in the anime. It's actually quite a powerful (but risky) card. I love all of my Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, but I literally cannot take a picture of every single one. I have too many. So I will let the Time Wizard stand in for all of them.

6) S.H. Figuarts Vegetto - The DBZ series may have taken a turn for the worse with the Majin Buu saga, but there were a few bright spots that still make it a worthy entry: Super Saiyan 3 Goku and Gotenks, Mystic Gohan, Buuhan, Majin Vegeta... and Vegetto. Honestly, I got this figure on a lark. He is not my favorite character, but Vegetto is still pretty badass and he was on sale at the time I purchased him from Crunchyroll. As you can see he is still in his case. When I have a better setup I will probably open him up.

5) Gurren Lagann Limited Edition - Remember when I said I was glad I bought Evangelion before it got too expensive? Well, this series was an exception where I knew it was expensive as hell, but I bought it anyway. I think I spent $160 on it. Yeah, but it is an awesome series and the collection is pretty freaking sweet.

4) Super Saiyan 2 Gohan Statue - I've had this figure so long I can't even remember when or where I got it. It is older than my Cooler, I think. The detail isn't quite on par with my Cooler, but it is still pretty good. I've had it displayed on my dresser ever since I got it. So we're talking about fifteen years of display.

3) Survey Corps Jacket (Attack On Titan) - This is a old picture as the date with undoubtedly give away, but the jacket is still in fine form. This jacket is so comfortable and wearing it always gives me strength. I know that sounds weird, but that is just how it is. I also got this jacket before the English dub had even started airing.

2) Tiffany Vollmer's Autographed Bulma Drawing - I've told this story on my blog before and shown the picture, but this still remains one of my favorite treasures.

1) My manga - For the longest time I was not a fan of manga. I never read any and I never bought any. But then a switch clicked somewhere in my head. I've been slowly building my manga collection up from scratch. I am still not where I want to be with my collection, but I do have all of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z manga.